A Gift for You

While I was playing in my craft room this afternoon, I was thinking about ornaments.  Even though we have moved just over a year ago, we still have tons to go through.  Last year I didn't even try to find my ornaments and actually just bought some cheapies from Big Lots and put them on.  They actually didn't look too bad.  We still haven't been able to find most of the ornaments.  I think they were the last thing loaded on the truck and the first thing unloaded into the basement and buried behind everything else.  We bought a real tree last year but decided to put up our very lovely fake tree this year to save a bit of money.  My husband found the box and brought it upstairs to put together.  Alas, the top of the tree is missing.  It must be in another box.  Grrrrrrr!!  Guess we will buy a tree.

Now back to the ornaments.  I was thinking about making some and remembered one I had made years ago.  I decided to try to make it again (it took a bit to remember how it went) and add it to a card.

The front layer on the card is from a Spellbinder die.  I didn't think I really needed this one but it was on clearance at one of the stores and my friend said I really should get it.  Glad I listened to her.  I added pearls to the middle of the poinsettia and added decorative corners to the top from a Spellbinder die made exclusively for Heartfelt Creations.  This is all layered on a 2nd layer of white punched around with my newest Martha Stewart corner/border punch.  It is really pretty.  This is layered onto the white card base.  I cut out the window throughout all the front layers, then embossed the back of the card with a new embossing folder. 

The ornament is made by stamping onto small white squares of paper.  I used the snowflake medallion stamp from Sparkle and Sprinkle and stamped both sides of the squares with denim blue Adirondek ink.  I think this is my favorite blue ink.  Then I did an origami fold on each square, punched the front corner with a decorative corner punch that I have had forever and love how it comes out.  NO!!  It is not from Martha Stewart.  You glue each square to the next ( I did 8 squares) and then add small squares of cardstock on each end, inserting ribbon inbetween. 

Then you tie the ornament closed. (I will try to do a better description of how to make this ornament later on, for those of you that have not done one of these.)

I attached a loop of ribbon at the top of the die opening so I could tie the ornament on and let it hang.  The when you give this away, the lucky person getting your awesome work can untie it and open it up, tie a bow to hold it open, and either hang it back on the card or even on their tree.  This is so simple, but makes a very elegant gift. 

When my oldest daughter was younger and I wasn't working, I went to her class and taught them all how to do this and they gave them to their parents for Christmas.  If you don't want to stamp paper, you can also use decorative paper, but it really needs to be two-sided.  Paper also works better than cardstock.  The cardstock is too stiff.


I have entered this card/ornament in the following challenges:
Catch the Bug Blog - Bugaboo Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion Challenge #35 - Anything Goes
The Cuttlebug Spot - Christmas Cards with your favorite embossing technique
Flourishes Winter White Challenge - All white with a little pop of color
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge (FTTC96) - 3D Holiday Gifts
Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge Week 25 - Anything but a card
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge 71 - Tree Decoration or Christmas Ornament
Paper Pretties Challenge - Punches
The Shabby Tea Room Week #39: Tis The Season - Holiday Gift Item/Gift Set
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Christmas, but no red or green
Top Tip Tuesday - Use Ribbon on your creation
Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - Ribbon and Bows
Sparkle N Sprinkle: December's Card Contest - Winter Theme Card
AiFactory Challenge #60 - Holiday/Christmas
Stamping Vacation: Name That Card Challenge - Snowy Christmas Wishes